Interchangeable-key lock.



EQE. WATSON.

INTERCHANGEABLE APPLICATION FILED MAILZOIIQIS.

Patented Jan@ 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I E. E. WASON.

v INIERCHANGEABLE KEY LOCK. n lAPPLICATION FILED MA R. 20,V ISIS. 1,268,900; 1 111911161111111@ 11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nnin.

ELMER E. `rWATSON', OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

INTERCHANGEABLE-KEY LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented I une 11, 1918.

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. WATSON, of Hamilton, in the county of Butler, and in the State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Interchangeable-Key Locks, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in interchangeable key locks.

The object of my invention is to provide an interchangeable key lock of very simple construction, pable of adaptation to any one of a very great number of different keys. l

A further object of my invention is to provide a lock of this character which offers great difliculty to anyone seeking to open the same without being provided with the proper-key, and which offers great diiiiculty to anyone seeking to discover the nature of the key required to open the lock.

In general, the key lock which constitutes an embodiment of my invention' is constructed in such a manner that any one of a given series of keys may be used to operate the lock, but that when adjusted and locked by a certain key, only the key whichhas been used to lock the lock can be used again to unlock it.

Again, when the lock has been locked, it is first necessary to insert a guard key for the purpose of setting up a master tumbler before the lock can be unlocked by the key which has been used for locking the same. Furthermore, when the locking and unlocking key has been withdrawn and the lock is in its unlocked position, it is first necessary to set up a master tumbler by means of the guard key before the lock can be again locked by means of one of the locking and unlocking keys. Finally, when the master tumbler has thus been set up in the unlocked position of the lock, any one of the series of keys referred to may be used for locking the lock and subsequently unlocking the same. y

The present application covers an improvement over the lock disclosed in my earlier applications for an interchangeable key lock, Ser. No. 519,364 filed September 24, 1909, and Ser. No. 526,704, filed November 8, 1909. Specifically stated, the improvement comprised in the present application is the arrangement of the parts in such a manner that the tumblers when in engagewhich at the same time is ca-V `receiving bracket 3,

ment with the stump at one end are not in engagement with` the stump on the other end but rest on the key cylinder. The broad nature of the improvement, is set forth in the specification as a whole, however, and the claims appended hereto.

I have shown one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which y Figure 1 represents a horizontal crosssection of a door equipped with one of my locks;`

Fig. '2 illustrates rior of my lock;

Fig. 3 is a similar View opposite side of the lock;

ig. 4 is a similar view to the view shown in Fig. 2, except that certain parts are broken away, and except that the parts are shown in the position in which the lock is ready to receive the guard key for setting the master tumbler up, so that the lock may be locked by one 0f the locking and unlocking keys; b1 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the master tum- Fig. 6 is a plan View of one of the auxiliary tumblers;

Fig. 7 is a plan view member;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the key cylinder;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross-section of the same;

' Fig. 11 is an end View of the same;

ig. 12 is a plan View of the guard key; an

Fig. 13 comprises plan views of two of the locking and unlocking keys; and

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the cover-plate for the lock.

In the drawings, lock 2, designed to an elevation of the intetaken from the of the auxiliary bolt 1 is a door carrying a coperate with a boltcarried by a wall or partition 4. The lock 2 comprises a casing 5 anda cover-plate 6, the cover-plate 6 being provided with a cylindrical boss 7 which extends through and to the front of the door. The lock 2 is secured to the door by means of screws 8. Supported within the cylindrical boss 7 there is `a keycylinder 9, the front end of which has a cylindrical extension l0 fitting within the cylindrical boss 7, and the other end 11 of which is carried within a recess in the lock casing 5. The end 1l carries a talon 12,

` bolt-head 14 is retained in place by the openbolt-head passes,

ing 15, through which the plate13 is mamwhile the rear end of the tained in its proper position by means of a pin 16, which engages with the slot, 17 in the plate 13. A transverse projection 18 appears at the rear of the plate 13, which projection engages with a similar projection 19 upon an auxiliary bolt-member 20. Said member 20 is guided within the lock casing 5 by means of pins 21 and 22, projecting from the lock casing and engaging with slots 23 and 24 respectively in the auxiliary bolt-member 20. The auxiliary bolt-member 20 carries a rearwardly projecting pin 25, which projects outwardly through the lock casing 5 through a slot 26 therein, the purpose of which construction is to be described hereinafter. The bolthead 14 and the plate 13 carry a front racking stump 27, while the auxiliary boltunember 2O carries a rear racking stump 28. A master tumbler 29 is supported in the lock adjacent to the plate 13 and the auxiliary bolt-member 20. The master tumbler 29 is supported in position by means of the front and rear racking stumps 27 and 28, the master tumbler being provided at its front end with a slot 29a to engage with the front racking stump, and a slot 31 and projection 32 upon its rear to engage with the rear racking stump 28. An opening 33 is provided in the master tumbler 29 to receive the key cylinder 9, and an opening 34 to pass over a pin 35 fixed to the lock-casing, which constitutes the pivot for the auxiliary tumblers 36. A spring 37 is attached to one side of the master tumbler 29, said spring 37 coperatingwith the interior of the lockeasing 5. At one side and at the front of the master tumbler 29 there is provided a recess 38, which passes over a pin 39, projecting upwardly from the lock casing 5. Each of the auxiliary tumblers 36 is provided at its front end with a slot 40, and at its rear end with a series of slots 42 and a projection 43. Each of the auxiliary tumblers 36 is, furthermore, provided with a slot 44 to receive the pin 35, a recess 45 at one side to coperate with the projections on the locking and unlocking keys, and a spring 46 at the other side to coperate with one side of the lock casing 5. The slots 40 on the auxiliary tumblers 36 are designed to coperate with the front racking stump 27, while the slots 42 and projections 43 upon the rear of the auxiliary tumblers 36 are designed to coperate with the rear rack ing stump 28.

1t will be noted from Fig. 14 that the front and rear racking stumps project through slots 47 and 48 respectively in the cover-plate 6, these slots forming guides for the free ends of said stumps.

The lock operates as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position as shown in Fig. 4, the lock cannot be locked by any one of the locking and unlocking keys, as these keys do not eoperate with the master tumbler 29 to move the latter from in front of the rear racking stump 28. It is, therefore, necessary in this position of the parts to iirst insert the guard key, in order to move the master tumbler 29 upwardly and longitudinally and cause the slot 31 therein to engage with the rear racking stump 28, as shown in Fig. 2. When the master tumbler has been moved into this position, any one of the series of locking and unlocking keys can be inserted to lock the lock. The insertion of one of these keys and the rotation thereof, causes the various auxiliary tumblers 36 first to be moved upwardly until a given set of t-he slots 42 are moved opposite to the rear racking stump 28, then a further rotation of the key causes the talon 12 to move the plate 13 and its attached bolt-head 14 forwardly so as to lock the lock. As the lock is thus being locked, the projection 18 upon the rear of the plate 13 engages with the projection 19 upon the auxiliary bolt member 20 to draw the rear racking stump 28 forwardly into the slots 42, which have been moved opposite to the same. As the lock becomes completely locked, the front racking stump 27 is withdrawn from the slots 29a and 40 in the master tumbler 29, and the auxiliary tumblers 36 respectively and the master tumbler and auxiliary tumblers are pressed downwardly by means of the springs 37'and 46. The top of the opening 33 and the tops of the recesses 45 engage with the top of the key cylinder 9 so that the slots 29 and 40 are located at varying elevations in regard to the front racking stump 27. rI`he varying elevations at which the tumblers 29 and 36 are supported with regard to the front racking stump 27, and the fact that all of these tumblers are supported directly in contact with the barrel 9, prevent anyone from dctermining the distance which the several tumblers must be elevated to bring the slots 29EL and 40 opposite the racking stump 27 by rotating a blank key or tool in the barrel 9. In this position of the parts, the front racking stump 27 is dogged, so as to prevent the withdrawal of the bolt-head 14 until the various tumblers are again moved. The master tumbler 29. dogs the front raek ing stump 27 by the engagement of the end of the recess 38 with the pin 39.

The parts having now been moved into the locked position, the lock cannot again i be unlocked by the sanie key which has been used to lock it, until the guard key has been first inserted to bring the slot 29a at the front of the master tumbler 29 into engagement with the front racking stump 27, in a manner similar to the engagement of the slot 31 at the rear of the master tumbler with the rear racking stump, which has already been described. When the master tumbler 29 has thus been set up, the locking and unlocking key cannow be utilized to unlock the lock by bringing the slots 40 opposite the front racking stump 27 and moving the plate 13 rearwardly, so as to cause the front racking stump 27 to enter said slots. The lock can in this manner be completely unlocked, but when so unlocked, the vkey cannot be withdrawn in the normal operation of the lock until the lock has been again locked.` This follows from the fact that in the unlockedl position of the lock, as shown in Fig. 2, the talon 12 engages with a lportion of the auxiliary b olt ineinber 20. I If it is desired, however, te draw the key from the lock in the unlocked position thereof, this may be 'accomplished by moving ,thepin 25 rearwardly. When the Spin 25 is moved rearwardly, the auxiliary bolt member 20 is moved out ofengageinent with the talon 12, so as to permit a further rotation of said talon, which, in turn, permits tlie withdrawal of the key. Simultaneously with the rearward movement of the auxiliary bolt member 20, the rear racking stump 28 is withdrawn from the slots 31 and 42, thereby permitting the tumblers 29 y and 36 to move downwardly until the pro- Ajections 32 and ,113 come into engagement with the rear racking stump 28. IIence, when the tumblersare to be reset .for a new fore the tumblerscan be thus reset and the bolt shot. 'Ihe lock is now in a position to be set up by the guard key, and to receive for further operation of the lock any one of the series of locking and ,unlocking keys adapted to be used therein..

i It is to be understood that in the normal operation of the lock, the latter is set up `by a guard key and operated by means of loneof the series of locking and unlocking fkeys, the latter being used to unlock the y lock and being withdrawn from the lock only when the lock is locked. `The lock is designed in this manner to be set up for use with a particular one ofthe series of locking and unlocking keys, and is designed to be retained in this condition until it is desired, for some reason, to` operate the lock with an entirely different one of the series fof locking and unlocking keys. It is understood, ofcourse, that once that thelock is set up for a particular one of the series of keys, no other one of `said series of keys can be used for unlocking and locking the lock withdrawing the locking and unlocking key in th`e unlocking position ofthe lock, iii- -sertiiig the master key to set up the master tumbler, and inserting another one of the seriesof locking and unlocking keys.

While I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim; 1. In Combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, and a racking stump at each end thereof adapted to engage and support the tumbler whereby when the locking member is in locked pes'ition one end of the tumbler is no longer engaged by its corresponding stump, and a lixed member for supporting said tumbler when the latter is out of engagement with said last mentioned stump.

2. In combination, a locking member, a. tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, and racking stumps `copeiating with the ends "of the tumbler, one of said stumps being adapted to support one end of thetumbler at varying elevations and the other being thrown out of engagement with the tumbler when the locking member is iii locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is at the same elevation while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations.

3. In combination, a locking member, a

key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, and rackported by the key receiving member, fwhile one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations. y

4. In combination, a locking member, a

key receiving member, a tumbler having a` keyengaging surface and controlling the vmovement of the locking member, and racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the Vtumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported equidistant from the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations.

5. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, and racking stumps adapted to engage and support the ends of the tumbler so that when the locking member is in locked position one end of the tumbler is no longer supported by its stump and a fixed member for supporting said tumbler when the latter is out of engagement with said last mentioned stump.

6. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end and controlling the movement of the locking member, and racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations and to be thrown out of cngagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, the parts being so constructed that when so out of engagement the key engaging surface is at the same elevation while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations.

7. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at keach end controlling the movement of the locking member, and racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of en gagemcnt the key engaging surface is supported by the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations.

8. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, and racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in ylocked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported the same distance from the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations.

9. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, a racking stump at each end thereof adapted to engage and support the tumbler whereby when the locking member is in locked position one end of the tumbler is no lon ger engaged by its corresponding stump, and a fixed member for supporting said tumbler when the latter is out of engagement with said last mentioned stump, and a movable abutment for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and 'when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

10. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler, one of said stumps being adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations and the other being thrown out of engagement with the stump when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key en gaging surface is at the same elevation while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a movable abutment for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking. l

11. `In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement o the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler' at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement withthe tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported by the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a movable abutment for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permittingsaid insertion and locking.

12. In combination, a locking member, a. key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement .with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported equidistant from the key receiving member, while vone end of the tumbler may ing, when in one i tumbler having a key i ing with the ends be at varying elevations, `and a movable abutment for preventing, `whenin one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and whenin another position permitting said insertion fand locking.

13. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stumpengaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps adapted to engage and support the ends of the tumbler `so that when the locking member is in looked position one end of the tumbler is no longer supported by its stump, a fixed member for supporting said tumbler `when the latter is out of engagement with said last mentioned stump, and a movable abutment for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, `and when in another position permitting saidinsertion and locking. r l

14. In combination, a locking member, a provided with a stump engaging slot at each end and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps coperatof the tumbler adapted to of the tumbler at varying elevations and to be thrown out of engagement with the tum. ler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in looked posisupport one end tion, the parts being so constructed that when so out of engagement the key engaging surface is at thesame elevation while one end of the tumbler maybe at varying elevations, and a movable abutment for preventposition, insertion `of a key and locking ofl the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and looking. y

V15. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member', a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and` to bethrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the looking member is in locked position, whereby `when the last mentioned partsare soout of engagement the key engaging surface is supported by the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a movable abutment for preventing', when in one position, insertion of a key and looking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

16. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end controlling engaging surface andthe movement of the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler atvarying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagementwith the tumbler at theother end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported equidistant from the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a movable abutment for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

17. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, a racking stump at each end thereof adapted to engage and supportthe tumbler whereby when the locking member is in locked position one end of the tumbler is no longer engaged by its corresponding stump and a fixed member for supporting said tumbler when the latter is out of engagement with said last mentioned stump, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another positionpermitting said insertion and locking. i

, 18. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging 'surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler one of said stumps being adapted to support one `end of the tumbler at varying elevations and the other being thrown out of engagement with the stump when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is at the same elevation while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the looking' member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

19. In combination, a `locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported by the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

20. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps cooperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported equidistant from the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

21. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps adapted to engage and support the ends of the tumbler so that when the locking member is in locked position one end of t-he tumbler is no longer supported by its stump, a fixed member for supporting said tumbler when the latter is out of engagement with said last mentioned stump and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

22. In combination, a locking member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end and controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, the parts being so .constructed that when so out of engagement the key engaging surface is at the same elevation while one Copies of this patent may be obtained for end of the tumbler may be at varying eleva tions, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

23. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump `engaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying elevations, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported by the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

24. In combination, a locking member, a key receiving member, a tumbler having a key engaging surface and provided with a stump engaging slot at each end controlling the movement of the locking member, racking stumps coperating with the ends of the tumbler, adapted to support one end of the tumbler at varying eleva-tions, and to be thrown out of engagement with the tumbler at the other end thereof when the locking member is in locked position, whereby when the last mentioned parts are so out of engagement the key engaging surface is supported equidistant from the key receiving member, while one end of the tumbler may be at varying elevations, and a slidable plate for preventing, when in one position, insertion of a key and locking of the locking member, and when in another position permitting said insertion and locking.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

ELMER E. IVATSON.

Witnesses:

H. L. KnAU'rI-I, ELBnR'rA U. KRAUTH.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

